← New search

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Malibu Classic years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
77,000 miles · Jun 26, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TO RELEASE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION A COUPLE TIME AND NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, BUT IN JUNE THE BEGINNING THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. SO I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONE WITH MY SHIFT THAT COST ME 884.00 DOLLARS. THEY CLAIM NO …

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TO RELEASE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION A COUPLE TIME AND NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, BUT IN JUNE THE BEGINNING THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. SO I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONE WITH MY SHIFT THAT COST ME 884.00 DOLLARS. THEY CLAIM NO WARRANTIES. I CALLED CHEVROLET TO FIND THERE WAS RECALL,BUT IT WAS DONE JUST BEFORE I PURCHASE THE CAR IN 2009. BUT IT KIND OF BIZARRE THE KEY WAS STILL GETTING STUCK IF IT WAS REPLACE. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP ME TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. I AM CONCERN WHY THIS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACE,BECAUSE IF CONTINUE TO REPLACE WOULDN'T MEAN IT STILL A DEFEAT PART. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606080

125,232 miles · Jan 2, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

2008 MALIBU SHOWS "ICE POSSIBLE" AND THEN TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGH WAY, IN TRAFFIC, WHILE ACCELERATING AND HONESTLY GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. TOOK TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, HOWEVER AFTER …

Read full complaint

2008 MALIBU SHOWS "ICE POSSIBLE" AND THEN TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGH WAY, IN TRAFFIC, WHILE ACCELERATING AND HONESTLY GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. TOOK TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACING THE VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE DONE HOWEVER THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE RECALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THE CAR IS DOING THAT. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A RESOLVE FOR THE ISSUE. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A DEFECT AND SOMETHING THAT IS RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490800

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.